The Reign of Greed eBook

The obsequies were, therefore, of the very first class.
There were responsories in the house, and in the street
three friars officiated, as though one were not sufficient
for such a great soul. All the rites and ceremonies
possible were performed, and it is reported that there
were even extras, as in the benefits for actors.
It was indeed a delight: loads of incense were
burned, there were plenty of Latin chants, large quantities
of holy water were expended, and Padre Irene, out
of regard for his old friend, sang the Dies Irae
in a falsetto voice from the choir, while the neighbors
suffered real headaches from so much knell-ringing.

Dona Patrocinio, the ancient rival of Capitan Tiago
in religiosity, actually wanted to die on the next
day, so that she might order even more sumptuous obsequies.
The pious old lady could not bear the thought that
he, whom she had long considered vanquished forever,
should in dying come forward again with so much pomp.
Yes, she desired to die, and it seemed that she could
hear the exclamations of the people at the funeral:
“This indeed is what you call a funeral!
This indeed is to know how to die, Dona Patrocinio!”

CHAPTER XXX

JULI

The death of Capitan Tiago and Basilio’s imprisonment
were soon reported in the province, and to the honor
of the simple inhabitants of San Diego, let it be
recorded that the latter was the incident more regretted
and almost the only one discussed. As was to be
expected, the report took on different forms, sad
and startling details were given, what could not be
understood was explained, the gaps being filled by
conjectures, which soon passed for accomplished facts,
and the phantoms thus created terrified their own creators.

In the town of Tiani it was reported that at least,
at the very least, the young man was going to be deported
and would very probably be murdered on the journey.
The timorous and pessimistic were not satisfied with
this but even talked about executions and courts-martial—­January
was a fatal month; in January the Cavite affair had
occurred, and they [65] even though curates,
had been garroted, so a poor Basilio without protectors
or friends—­

“I told him so!” sighed the Justice of
the Peace, as if he had at some time given advice
to Basilio. “I told him so.”

“It was to be expected,” commented Sister
Penchang. “He would go into the church
and when he saw that the holy water was somewhat dirty
he wouldn’t cross himself with it. He talked
about germs and disease, aba, it’s the
chastisement of God! He deserved it, and he got
it! As though the holy water could transmit diseases!
Quite the contrary, aba!”

She then related how she had cured herself of indigestion
by moistening her stomach with holy water, at the
same time reciting the Sanctus Deus, and she
recommended the remedy to those present when they should
suffer from dysentery, or an epidemic occurred, only
that then they must pray in Spanish: